Redesigned United Nations Information Centres Websitehttp://unic.un.org/
To mark United Nations Day 2008, the Department of Public Information has launched the newly redesigned United Nations Information Centres website. The website serves as a portal to the Department’s network of 63 Information Centres worldwide, whose work is at the core of the Organization’s efforts to tell the United Nations story to people around the world, often in their own languages. The website is noteworthy in that it provides information about the United Nations in 130 languages, including the six official languages of the Organization. (Press Release PI/1863, 24 October 2008)

Subsidiary bodies of the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly in the economic, social and related fields (E/2008/INF/3)English, French & Spanish:http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=E/2008/INF/3
This new document provides information about the Subsidiary bodies of the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly in the economic, social, and related fields. For each body listed, the document provides information about its establishment, terms of reference, membership and composition, term of office of members, reporting procedure, frequency of meetings, and working methods.

Peace & Security

Capacity Survey: Regional and other Intergovernmental Organisations in the Maintenance of Peace and Security (UNU-CRIS) http://www.cris.unu.edu/fileadmin/user_upload/capacity_survey.pdf
This global survey – of the capacities of all regional organisations in the field of peace of security (conflict prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping, enforcement, and peace-building) was compiled by the United Nations University - Comparative Regional Integration Studies Over the last decade, regional organisations have been empowered by the UN and national governments concurrently to maintain peace and security. The Survey maps out - in a comparative and descriptive fashion - their history, capacities and operational experience. To carry out this Survey, UNU-CRIS assembled a team of 6 researchers and collected data through the (i) submission of a questionnaire to all regional organisations, (ii) field work, and (iii) desk research. The publication surveys 21 organisations, including the African Union, European Union, League of Arab States, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) http://www.un.org/sc/ctc/
The English website of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) was recently updated. The site provides background information about the work of the committee, and links to additional resources, in areas such as: Capacity Building; Cooperation; Best Practices; Laws; Human Rights; and UN Action against Terrorism.
The Resources section includes links to documentation related to the work of the CTC.

Montreux Document (A/63/467 - S/2008/636) English, French & Spanish: http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=A/63/467
A letter from the Permanent Representative of Switzerland transmits the Montreux Document, a text containing rules and good practices relating to private military and security companies operating in armed conflict. The document is the outcome of a joint initiative by Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross, with input from governmental experts of 17 states, and representatives of civil society and of private military and security companies. While it is not a legally binding document, the transmittal letter invites states to communicate their support for the document.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data for 2008 (UNFCCC) http://unfccc.int/press/items/2794.php
Greenhouse gas emissions of 40 industrialized countries rose by 2.3 per cent between 2000 and 2006, while still about 5 per cent below the 1990 level, according to United Nations figures released on 17 November 2008, two weeks before a major review conference on the issue. For the smaller group of industrialized countries that ratified the 1997 Kyoto Protocol setting reduction targets, emissions in 2006 were about 17 per cent below the Protocol’s 1990 base line, but they still grew after 2000. The pre-2000 decrease stemmed from the economic decline of transition countries in Eastern and Central Europe in the 1990s.

International Migration and Human Rights: Challenges and Opportunities on the Threshold of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights http://www.globalmigrationgroup.org/what_is_gmg.htm
The report – published by the Global Migration Group - considers the human rights framework governing migration, arguing that migrants are not simply agents for development but human beings with rights.

People on the Move: Handbook of Selected Terms and Concept http://www.thehagueprocess.org/upload/pdf/PDFHandbookWEBSITE.pdf
This Migration Glossary – a Publication from The Hague Process on Refugees and Migration (THP Foundation) in cooperation with UNESCO - takes stock of the present use of some selected terms and concepts and is designed to be accessible to a general public.

Women 2000 and Beyond: Rural women in a changing world: Opportunities and challenges (DESA) http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/public/Women%202000%20-%20Rural%20Women%20web%20English.pdf
Women play a critical role in the rural economies of both developed and developing countries. In most parts of the developing world, they participate in crop production and livestock care, provide food, water and fuel for their families, and engage in off-farm activities to diversify the family income. In addition, they carry out vital functions in caring for children, older persons and the sick. This issue of “Women 2000 and Beyond” explores the situation of rural women and the full diversity of their experiences in the context of the changing rural economy, including their position within households, community and economic structures; the gender division of labour; their access to and control over resources; and their participation in decision-making. It focuses specifically on the situation of rural women in developing countries. This publication aims to highlight women’s contributions to the social, economic and political aspects of rural development and raise critical issues for improving the situation of rural women.

Human Rights

Good practices in legislation on violence against women (DESA & UNODC)http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/egm/vaw_legislation_2008/vaw_legislation_2008.htm
A report issued by the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime offers good practices and lessons learned designed to assist States in enhancing existing legislation and developing new laws to address violence against women.

Toolkit to Combat Trafficking in Persons (UNODC)http://www.unodc.org/documents/human-trafficking/HT_Toolkit08_English.pdf
The 2nd edition of the “Toolkit to Combat Human Trafficking” has been released by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The 123 tools contained in the Toolkit offer guidance, recommended resources, and promising practices to policymakers, law enforcers, judges, prosecutors, victim service providers and members of civil society who are working in interrelated spheres towards preventing trafficking, protecting and assisting victims and promoting international cooperation.

International Law

Audiovisual Library of International Lawhttp://www.un.org/law/avl/
Today, the Office of Legal Affairs launched the Audiovisual Library of International Law. This website has three main parts:

The Historic Archives present documents, photos, and digital film footage relating to the UN role in the development of international law;

The Lecture Series contains lectures by leading scholars on topics in international law, and includes a bibliography of related materials;

The Research Library provides links to other web-based research resources in international law, including other UN sources, national treaty series, and selected scholarly articles provided by HeinOnline (still in pilot/beta).

The Audiovisual Library aims to provide free, scholarly resources to students and practitioners around the world, particularly in regions where there are few resources for the study of international law.

NEW INFORMATION MATERIAL

Single copies of the following titles can be ordered via e-mail:
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Resolutions and decisions of the Economic and Social Council: Organizational session for 2007 - New York, 17 and 22 January, 6, 9 and 15 February, 2 and 15 March and 16 April 2007; Resumed organizational session for 2007 - New York, 25 and 26 April and 24 May 2007; Substantive session of 2007 - Geneva, 2–27 July 2007; Resumed substantive session of 2007 - New York, 4 and 17 October 2007.
Economic and Social Council. Official Records, 2007. Supplement No. 1.
United Nations. New York. 2008. 166 p. (E/2007/99)
Online version: http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=E/2007/99(Supp)

Social Media

The Brussels based United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe - UNRIC provides information on UN activities to the countries of the region. It also provides liaison with institutions of the European Union in the field of information. Its outreach activities extend to all segments of society and joint campaigns, projects and events are organized with partners including the EU, governments, the media, NGOs, schools and local authorities.